Willow House

Hurrah!

Last year I opened an Etsy shop and popped 3 of my English Blossom Fairies in it, eventually they sold, not through Etsy but via the blog. This year I reopened the shop for some of my Peggles only this time I took a bit of time to see how Etsy actually worked.

I hadn't had the faintest idea what I was doing first time around, I didn't even realise that lots of lovely bloggers had "hearted" me. Anyway I have now had my first Esty sale and Miss Lilian Peggle is on her way to the USA.

 And the moral of this post?

Well all you would be Etsians waiting for a sale, don't give up, read the advice on selling and visit the forums, lots of helpful stuff, and people there amongst the chaff and good luck.

Quiet times

After all the excitement of Vanessa's party it all seems very quiet here in blog land with people taking time off to holiday, spend time with family and some even giving up completely.

It seems quiet here at Willow House too giving me plently of time to watch the world go by.

Time to quietly try and fill my Etsy shop.

But it's definetly not quiet for everyone and having just read her exciting news I'd like to offer my congratulations to the lovely Maryam of My Marrkesh.

Gifts from The Patchwork Dress

I've been trying to tell you all about the lovely package I received from Caireen of The Patchwork Dress for what seems like days now. Many of you may have already read the rave reviews bloggers have been giving Caireen's recycled cards and I was delighted to receive one amongst the goodies.

Caireen recycles those gorgeous images from top quality magazines, somehow she manages to "wrap" the image around the card (again recycled) front and back without bubbling, stretching or tearing and to top it all these cards come with adorable envelopes again made from magazine pages.

Caireen has an eye for picking the most wonderful images but then she is also a very talented photographer and I also received some of her photograph cards, this is my favourite:

Unfortunately I can't show you all that I received as I've already sent one to someone, it was perfect for them Caireen than you very much.

Now I would tell you all to rush over and take a look in Caireen's Etsy shop but I've noticed that it is currently closed for spring cleaning but do visit her blog which I'm sure you will find as delightful as I do and no doubt she will let us know when the shop is restocked.

You will let us know won't you Caireen?

PS: Sorry the links don't seem to be working, please look in my sidebar for the patchwork dress and Typepad when are you going to sort this mess out?

Little Update

Typepad still not working properly, I was halfway through a post, tried to add a second photograph and it crashed, so I tried again and yes it crashed again, I'm really not a happy bunny.

At the end of my tether......

Sorry folks, can't blog at the moment because Typepad's new Compose Screen will not show my photographs and to ad insult to injury keeps crashing!

Will try again tomorrow, can you believe we actually pay for this "service....."

Do you really want to take that call?

Completely unrelated photograph of a Cornflower, but it's hard to post without a pic isn't it?

Just take a look at these links

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=kAd0aWxs7kQ

 

 http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ju5yIFu4yY8

 

http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=V94shlqPlSI

 

Now do you really want to take that call?

Scary huh?

Happy May Day

I'm told that the French give little bunches of Lily of the Valley as gifts on the First of May. The Lily of the Valley here at Willow House aren't quite ready yet they are still in tight bud, I can't wait for them to open.

Yet more thanks

Thanks ladies your comments have put things into perspective. This is the really great thing about blogging you meet lots of wonderfully supportive people. WhiIst I would like to thank all of you who took the time and trouble to comment on the last post I do feel that I owe special thanks to: PJ, tut tut, PG, Rosie and Louise whose very sensible comments have been paticularly helpful.

Now back to those skirts well not skirts exactly but something to wear with them. Some of you may know that I'm not exactly a natural with the knitting needles although as  this post explains I would dearly like to knit. I can sit and gaze with longing at things like this for ages:

Picture from Anita Kaushal 's "FamilyLifeStyle HOME", more details, where to buy etc can be found in this post)

And when I accidently stumble upon the possible pattern for this, what am I too do?

I mean I can't knit! Anyway I caved and bought the pattern and some yarn.

Now I know you are all expecting to see a happy ending to this tale of knitting needles at dawn, you probably think the next pic is going to be of a lovely fat knitted elephant don't you?

Sadly that isn't the case. This almost proved to be my knitting nemesis. I think I had to undo the wretched thing half a dozen times, knitting a scarf doesn't exactly prepare you for the skills required to cast on extra stitches and reduce the number of stiches. (Stop laughing you lot, remember I can't knit!). After a whole weekend of attempted knitting I had to give up, and I do mean HAD to give up, never in my life have I felt such pain in my hands and the index finger on my left hand was rubbed raw. Must be doing something wrong.

So no charming gentleman elephant for me. Boo hoo!

But I have little arms that really need to be clothed

and wouldn't they look delightful in little woolen sweaters so I tried again and I'm delighted to report a success of sorts,

that is if I can stitch it all together.

Thanks

I've been awarded this

by LAZYLOL, reason "love those chickens and also welcomed me at the beginning", so kind, thank you. And I remember it was you who explained to me how to do links Iam forever in your debt!

Now apparently the rules are as follows:

" the recipient of the award will pass it on to 10 recipients of their choice, you may receive this award more than once, and you must list your 10 recipients, say why you are choosing them and link to their blog."

How do I choose just ten of you? I can't because every single blog that I visit makes my day that's why I visit and every single comment I get here at Willow House makes my day. So thank you all, and not just those of you who have made it into the links, there are many more that I visit and I will get around to updating the sidebar one day soon, honest.

Four Things

Tagged again this time by Caireen of the patchwork dress so:

4 movies I'd watch again:

The 1953 British comedy Genevieve

Master and Commander

101 Dalmations

A Midsummer Nights Dream

4 places I've lived:

East Anglia

The Home Counties

New York State

Greece

4 TV shows I watch:

Well I've already confessed to the likes of Rosemary and Thyme, Midsummer Murders and Foyles War in previous posts but now I have to admit to a rather unhealthy addiction to CSI(all of them) and House. 

4 places I've been:

New York

Washington

Las Vegas

Los Angeles

4 people I email:

Actually I'm hopeless at keeping in touch but I do sometimes email:

My big brother in Texas

My little brother in Virginia

My sister in Nebraska

And one of my cousins in Hertfordshire.

4 things to eat:

Okay I'll be really unhealthy here and say

Cake

Chocolate

Chips

Cookies

(all in moderation!)

4 places I'd rather be:

On the beach with the children, dogs and hubby.

In the woods with the children, dogs and hubby.

Eating lunch (roasted vegetables)  in Byfords with the children and hubby.

Snuggled up in bed with the children, dogs, hubby and cats watching any of the above movies or TV shows.

4 things to look forward to:

All of the above.

4 people to tag:

Rosie

Tut-tut

Wendy

Lazylol